Winter Fire Safety Tips for the Home

Winter Fire Safety Tips for the Home

Winter Fire Safety Tips for the Home

Talladega Fire Rescue Department continues to fight structure fires at an alarming rate. The high cost of home heating fuels and utilities have caused many Americans to search for alternate sources of heating. The use of wood-burning stoves is growing and space heaters are selling rapidly, or coming out of storage. Fireplaces are burning wood and manmade logs. These methods of heating are acceptable and their usage are factors in residential fires. However, with precautions, these fires can be prevented. Please follow these tips during the winter season.

Furnace Heating

Furnace inspected prior to usage by a licensed professional.

Emergency shutoffs and controls work properly as determined by a qualified professional.

Check the pipes and pipe seams. Are they well supported? Free of holes, and cracks? Soot along or around seams may indicate a leak. Deadly carbon monoxide may be escaping into your home.

Change furnace filters on a regular basis.

Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

Wood Stoves and Fireplaces

Wood stoves and fireplaces are common heat sources in homes. Careful attention to safety can minimize their fire hazard.

Be sure the stove or fireplace is installed properly. Woodstoves should have adequate clearance (36”) from combustible surfaces, and proper floor support and protection.

Wood stoves should be of good quality, solid construction and design, and should be UL listed.

Chimney inspected annually and cleaned if necessary especially if it has not been used for some time.

Do not use flammable liquids to start or accelerate any fire.

Keep a glass or metal screen in front of the fireplace opening to prevent embers or sparks from jumping out, unwanted material from going in, and help prevent the possibility of burns to occupants.

Don’t use excessive amounts of paper to build roaring fires in fireplaces. It is possible to ignite creosote in the chimney by overbuilding the fire.

Keep flammable materials away from your fireplace mantel. A spark from the fireplace could easily ignite these materials.

Before you go to sleep, be sure your fireplace fire is extinguished. NEVER close your damper with hot ashes in the fireplace. A closed damper will help the fire heat up again and will force toxic carbon monoxide into the home.

If synthetic logs are used follow directions on package. NEVER break synthetic logs apart to quicken the fire or use more than one log at a time. They burn unevenly, releasing high levels of carbon monoxide.

Never discard hot ashes inside or near home. Place them in a metal container outside and well away from the home.

Kitchen Stoves

Never use a gas range or an oven to heat your kitchen. Any unvented fuel burning appliance is capable of producing deadly levels of carbon monoxide.